2006-2008 CATALOGUE

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COURSE CATALOGUE : CLASSICS

Offerings in the Department of Classics explore all aspects of the languages and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, the context of their interaction with the rest of the Mediterranean world, and their subsequent influence on our own day. The study of the classics, therefore, reveals important aspects of ancient cultures, raising new and fresh questions and insights both about antiquity and about the world in which we live. The department’s faculty is also committed to understanding, both historically and theoretically, issues of gender, class and race.

Courses in the Department of Classics invite students to discover the literatures and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. Courses in Greek and Latin focus on important texts in the original languages; these courses aim to develop a facility in reading Greek and Latin and to sharpen skills in literary criticism. Courses in classical civilization use materials exclusively in English translation and require no prerequisites; they offer students from the entire Colleges’ community an opportunity to study classical literature and institutions in conjunction with a major, minor, or interdisciplinary work in the humanities.

The department offers disciplinary majors and minors in Classics, Latin and Greek. The department also coordinates both a disciplinary and interdisciplinary minor in Classical Studies. The Classical Studies minors approach the study of ancient Greek and Roman civilization from various directions, with various modes of inquiry. They are a less linguistically oriented alternative, offered to those who are interested in antiquity but not primarily interested in the ancient languages themselves.

All courses toward any of the majors or minors offered by Classics must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASSICS MAJOR (B.A.)disciplinary, 12 courses
Four courses in Greek and four in Latin, including at least one 300-level course in each language. Four additional classics courses or courses approved by the department. No more than two 100-level language courses may count towards the major. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the major.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASSICS MINORdisciplinary, 5 courses
Three Greek and two Latin courses or two Greek and three Latin. No more than three 100-level language courses may count towards the minor. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the minor.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASSICAL STUDIES MINORdisciplinary, 5 courses
Two courses in either Latin or Greek language; three additional courses, including two courses from one of the classical studies groups and one course from a second group or one from each of three different groups. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the minor.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLASSICAL STUDIES MINORinterdisciplinary, 5 courses
Same as for the disciplinary minor, but selection of courses must include at least one course from the classical studies group in a division outside of the humanities. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the minor.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GREEK MAJOR (B.A.)disciplinary, 12 courses
Seven courses in Greek language, at least four of which must be at the 200-level and one at the 300-level; five additional courses selected from classics or other courses with appropriate content approved by the adviser. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the major.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GREEK MINORdisciplinary, 5 courses
Five courses in Greek language, at least three of which must be at the 200-level or above. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the minor.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LATIN MAJOR (B.A.)disciplinary, 12 courses
Seven courses in Latin language, at least four of which must be at the 200-level and one at the 300-level; five additional courses selected from classics or other courses with appropriate content approved by the adviser. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the major.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LATIN MINORdisciplinary, 5 courses
Five courses in Latin language, at least three of which must be at the 200-level or above. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than one course with a CR grade may be counted towards the minor.

CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONSCourses requiring no knowledge of Greek or Latin, with no prerequisites, and suitable for first through fourth year students.

CLAS 108 Greek Tragedy This course is a reading in English translation of selected plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides—the earliest examples of one of the most pervasive genres of "Western" literature. Each play is considered in its own right and in relation to larger issues, such as: the tragic treatment of myth; tragedy's relevance to contemporary Athenian problems; tragedy's role in the creation of an Athenian identity; tragedy's role in debates about a citizen's socio-political obligations to the state; the central role of gender politics in tragedy and what this might mean about Athenian society; what these plays might be said to imply about their audience's understanding of the world. Further, through attention to matters of production, an attempt is made to imagine the effect of the plays in performance in the Athenian theater. The course considers, in addition, possible definitions of tragedy, with the aid both of other writers' views and of experiences of the texts themselves. (Offered every three years)

CLAS 125 Greek and Roman Religion This course is an introduction to Greek and Roman religious thought and practice. Subjects to be covered include: the pre-Greek "goddess worship" of Minoan Crete, the Greek Olympians and the "mystery religions," the impersonal agricultural deities of the early Romans, the Greek and Roman philosophical schools, Christianity's conquest of the Empire and the Empire's regimentation of Christianity. Attention is paid to the practice of animal sacrifice, the Greek and Roman religious festivals, the contrast between public and private cult, the tolerance of religious diversity under paganism vs. the intolerance of monotheism, and pagan ideas of personal salvation. The course's approach is historical. (Offered every three years)

CLAS 202 Athens in the Age of Pericles This course is a survey of the history of ancient Greece, from the earliest days to the time of Alexander the Great. At the course's center is the great age of Athenian democracy, so fertile in its influence on our own culture. Particular attention is paid to the social and political history of Periklean Athens, but we will also spend a lot of time considering the culture of Ancient Greece. The heroic Age, oral poetry, religion, philosophy, science, Athenian law, the theater, Greek sexuality, literature and architecture are all among the topics covered. The way in which the ancient Greeks thought and expressed themselves is bursting with examples to compare to contemporary times; thus, a critical examination of Ancient Greece and its heritage requires students to read a range of primary sources from ancient philosophy to biography. We begin the course with the political and social revolution that led to the rise of the city-state and then, focus our attention on life in Athens and Sparta during the fifth century B.C.E. The course then traces domestic Athens' decline under the effects of the Peloponnesian War and Macedonian imperialism. (Offered every three years)

CLAS 209 Alexander the Great In 336 BCE Alexander acquired the throne of Macedonia but thirteen years later died in Babylon. In that time, Alexander had conquered the Persian Empire, been declared the son of the God Amun of Egypt, travelled past the Indus River, and had become involved in the acculturation of ancient cultures. Although Alexander had achieved a great deal his legacy achieved even more. Alexander and his achievements offer many problems and scholars and enthusiasts have presented a multitude of interpretations. Consequently, and thankfully, a history of Alexander the Great is a wonderful entry into the world of historiography. In addition, exploring Alexander can offer us different perspectives on leadership and how, if at all, we can learn about leadership through an investigation of Alexander. Finally, reading the ancient sources inevitably provides readers with a window into what the Greeks thought about the East and the "us" versus "them" mentality that pervaded much of the Greek world. As the eminent Macedonian scholar Eugene Borza wrote, "it was Alexander's lot that to act as a human being was to move on a vast stage, affecting the lives of countless persons in his own day and capturing the fancies of those who lived after." (Offered every three years)

CLAS 230 Gender and Sexuality in Antiquity This course investigates ancient Greek and Roman conceptions of femininity, masculinity, and sexuality. In particular, it asks the questions: What did it mean to be a woman or a man? What did the ancient Greeks and Romans think about gender or sexuality? Is there such a thing as gender or sexuality in Greco-Roman antiquity? What did the Greeks and Romans define as 'natural' when it came to men, women, gender, and sex? Is it possible for us to investigate ancient attitudes without our own attitudes interfering? What can the answers to these questions teach a modern student? Finally, how might an understanding of ancient attitudes towards men, women, gender and sexuality relate to modern debates about gender and sexuality? (Offered every three years)

GREEK COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
GRE 101 Elementary Ancient Greek "There is one criterion, and one only, by which a course for the learners of a language no longer spoken should be judged: the efficiency and speed with which it brings them to the stage of reading texts in the original language with precision, understanding, and enjoyment." This statement by Sir Kenneth Dover characterizes the approach to learning Greek pursued in the beginning sequence (GRE 101, GRE 102). The aim of this sequence is to provide students with the vocabulary and grammatical skills necessary to read ancient Greek authors as quickly as possible. This language study also offers an interesting and effective approach to the culture and thought of the ancient Greeks. No prerequisites. (Fall, offered annually)

GRE 102 Beginning Greek II "There is one criterion, and one only, by which a course for the learners of a language no longer spoken should be judged: the efficiency and speed with which it brings them to the stage of reading texts in the original language with precision, understanding, and enjoyment." This statement by Sir Kenneth Dover characterizes the approach to learning Greek pursued in the beginning sequence (GRE 101, GRE 102). The aim of this sequence is to provide students with the vocabulary and grammatical skills necessary to read ancient Greek authors as quickly as possible. This language study also offers an interesting and effective approach to the culture and thought of the ancient Greeks. No prerequisites. (Spring, offered annually)

GRE 223 Homer This course reads one of the most famous authors of all time, Homer, both to improve reading knowledge of ancient Greek and to familiarize ourselves with one of the most influential texts in the "West." We will read either Homer's Iliad or Odyssey, the earliest written narratives in European history. As we read, we will learn more about Homeric dialect and the art of oral composition. We will also regularly engage with the most enduring question in Homeric scholarship: Can you treat Homer's texts as literary constructs, or does their 'orality' preclude such analyses? If Homeric texts cannot be treated like literature, what can we say about Homeric narrative? We will also investigate how Homer's Iliad and Odyssey have informed the development of the "Western" tradition. Prerequisite: GRE 102 or the equivalent. (Offered every three years)

GRE 250 Ancient Greek Historians In this course, students read selections from Herodotus, Xenophon, or Thucydides, examining the author's prose style and the historical contexts in which they wrote. The course aims to develop the ability to read the original Greek text of an ancient historian with attention given to vocabulary, grammar and style. In this way, students will be introduced to Attic Greek Prose, the language of other great authors like Plato, Lysias, Demosthenes, and Aristotle. In addition, students will examine the ways in which Greek historians recorded their history so that it was both aesthetically pleasing and useful. As such, students will be introduced to ancient historiography and investigate for themselves the methodologies and theoretical approaches of the ancient Greek historians. Prerequisite: GRE 102 or equivalent. (Offered every three years)

GRE 264 Euripides This class will read one of Euripides' tragedies (e.g., Medea, Alcestis, Hippolytos, Bacchae) not only to acquaint ourselves with the language, grammar and style of tragic Greek, but also to familiarize ourselves with one of Athens' "big three" Tragedians. Euripides was a misunderstood (if admired) tragedian in his day who was also fated to remain somewhat misunderstood by later readers, as well. Never has an author generated so many contradictory responses: Is Euripides a misogynist or a proto-feminist? Does he approve or disapprove of Athenian democracy? Does he approve or disapprove of Athenian empire? Was Euripides a moralist or did he question the underpinnings of Athenian culture? Are his tragedies deliberately comedic, or is he just that melodramatic—or even, is his (apparent) irony meant as satiric criticism? Is Euripides a devout believer in the Greek pantheon, or is he not? All of these alleged contradictions will be discussed. This course also discusses the performative context of Euripides' work, and its influence on later dramas and literature. Prerequisite: GRE 102 or equivalent. (Offered every three years)

GRE 265 Aristophanes In this course, one of the comedies of Aristophanes, such as Lysistrata or Clouds, is read closely in ancient Greek. The course aims to develop the ability to read the original Greek text of an Aristophanic comedy with attention given to vocabulary, grammar, and style. In addition to discussing its universal human themes, the course explores its relevance to its Athenian historical period and discusses the particular nature of Aristophanic comedy. Prerequisite: GRE 102 or equivalent. (Offered every three years)

GRE 400 Senior Seminar This seminar is designed to provide an integrative capstone experience for Greek, Latin, and Classics majors. Team-taught by members of the department, the structure and content of the course varies to meet the individual needs and desires of the senior majors. Possible content may include: intensive reading of Latin/Greek authors, Latin/Greek composition, surveys of Latin/Greek literature, introduction to research tools for graduate study, developing bibliographies, and designing materials in preparation for teaching. (Spring, offered occasionally)

GRE 450 Independent Study(by arrangement)

GRE 456 1/2 Credit Independent Study(by arrangement)

GRE 495 Honors(by arrangement)

LATIN COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
LAT 101 Beginning Latin I This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of Latin grammar, accompanied by some practice in reading the language. The aim is to equip students to read the major Roman authors. No prerequisite. (Fall, offered annually)

LAT 102 Beginning Latin II This course continues and completes the study of basic grammar and introduces representative samples of Latin prose (e.g., Cicero, Caesar) and poetry (e.g., Catullus, Ovid). By consolidating their knowledge of grammar and building their vocabulary, students are able to read Latin with increased ease and pleasure and to deepen their understanding of ancient Roman culture. Prerequisite: LAT 101 or the equivalent. (Spring, offered annually)

LAT 223 Medieval Latin At the end of the Roman Empire, as "classical" Latin grew more formal and artificial, vulgar Latin, the language of the "common people" and the parent of the Romance languages, emerged as a sophisticated literary instrument. Throughout the Middle Ages, an enormous literature was produced in this living Latin: works sacred and profane, serious and flippant. In this course, students read selections, in the original Latin, from works in theology, history, biography, fiction, and poetry. Attention is given to the differences between Medieval and "classical" Latin, but the course emphasizes the creativity of the medieval authors as artists in a living language. Prerequisite: LAT 102 or the equivalent, or permission of instructor. (Offered every three years)

LAT 238 Latin Epic (Vergil Or Ovid) This course is a careful reading in Latin of some of the Aeneid or the Metamorphoses, with the entire poem read in English, to enable students to appreciate the poetry, as well as Vergil's or Ovid's representation of Augustan Rome against the background of its historical and literary heritage. Prerequisite: LAT 102 or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor. (Offered every three years)

LAT 248 Cicero and Pliny This course includes readings in the original Latin of works by eyewitnesses to the profound changes that Rome experienced during the late republic and early empire. It gives considerable attention to the literary intentions of the author and to the light those intentions throw on contemporary political feelings and postures. Prerequisite: LAT 102 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. (Offered every three years)

LAT 255 Latin Historians: Tacitus or Livy In this Latin course, students will translate selections from one of the Roman historians, either Livy or Tacitus. The course aims to develop the ability to read the original Latin text of an ancient historian with attention given to vocabulary, grammar, and style. Students will also examine the work's context, place in history, and the writer's style as an historian. Livy and Tacitus are valuable on several levels: linguistic, historical, and literary. For Classicists, both the historical and philological value of the Roman historians are substantial and students can expect, therefore, to not only develop the ability to read the original text, but also, to learn about and research Roman historiography. Prerequisite: LAT 102 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. (Offered every three years)

LAT 400 Senior Seminar This seminar is designed to provide an integrative capstone experience for Greek, Latin, and Classics majors. Team-taught by members of the department, the structure and content of the course varies to meet the individual needs and desires of the senior majors. Possible content includes: intensive reading of Latin/Greek authors, Latin/Greek composition, surveys of Latin/Greek literature, introduction to research tools for graduate study, developing bibliographies, designing materials in preparation for teaching. (Spring, offered occasionally)